How to Reset a DIRECTV Remote Control

Instruction Guide to Reset a DIRECTV Remote Control

Did your Genie DIRECTV remote or standard DIRECTV remote stop working? A recent upgrade from DIRECTV seems to have created problems for some people. Here are some very simple steps you can take to get function back.

First, reset the receiver. Find the red reset button, located either on the front of the receiver behind a spring-loaded door, or on the side. Press it and wait about ten minutes. If that solves your problem, you´re all set.

If not, look at your remote and see if the light at the top lights up when you press a button. If it doesn´t, that´s usually a sign of dead batteries and that´s another easy fix. However, if the light does light up, that could mean the remote has become unpaired and that´s a little harder to fix.

If you are able to use the front panel of your receiver, press {MENU} then arrow down to Settings&Help and press {SELECT}. Then arrow over to Settings and press {SELECT} again. Finally, arrow down to Remote Control and press {SELECT}. Make sure Reset Remote is highlighted. Depending on your setup, this may be automatic or you may have to enter codes into your remote.

If you can´t control the receiver at all, here´s the manual method: On the remote, Press and hold {MUTE} and {SELECT} until the light flashes three times. Then press Press 9 8 1 and {SELECT}. The remote will flash four times and should now be reset. This puts your Genie remote into IR mode and you should be able to use it to program the DVR to put the remote back into RF mode if you want to, and to program it to control the volume on the TV.

If you´re using an older DVR or receiver (in other words, non-Genie) you´ll need to fully reset the remote and the receiver to take both out of RF mode. Then you´ll need to reprogram all the extra devices that are controlled by that remote.

If you need to change other settings that are specific to the receiver, like the receiver mode (for example, if the receiver is set to one of the "other modes" that allow more than one receiver to be used in the same room, you should now be able to use your remote to go into the programming and advanced menus on the receiver.